The perfect make ahead brunch recipe served with fresh berries, fresh basil, maple syrup and of course whipped cream!  Perfect for Sunday brunch and Mother’s Day

Everyone knows that French toast is delicious! Its buttery with hints of cinnamon and sugar. This French toast bake is similar to a breakfast bread pudding and can be made the night before.

This is a great make ahead brunch recipe where were layering bread and egg and then baking it. No standing infront of the stove cooking French toast. You can sit back relax and spend time with your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.

The French toast bake smells amazing and when its almost time to eat your guests start smelling the aromas of cinnamon, butter and sugar as if you were baking all morning! The French toast comes out perfect, golden brown and the added cream cheese dollops just add a nice layer of creaminess your guests will enjoy!

The hints of basil add such a nice earthy freshness to the French toast and certainly makes this feel like a grown up sophisticated brunch. Every bit is buttery filled with pockets of cream cheese, sugar and the freshness you get from the berries and basil balances everything perfectly! Sunday brunch with mom never tasted so good!!

This strawberries and cream French toast bake is always a hit. Serve with fresh cut berries, fresh strawberries, maple syrup, fresh basil and whipped cream.

Happy brunching and happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful moms out there!

Cheers!

Print Recipe

STRAWBERRY & CREAM FRENCH TOAST BAKE

The perfect make ahead brunch recipe served with fresh berries, fresh basil, maple syrup and of course whipped cream!  Perfect for Sunday brunch and Mother’s Day

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Additional Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 55 minutes mins

Course: Mothers Day

Servings: 4 -6

Author: the communal feast

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread of Challah cut in large chunks
• 2 tbsp butter for greasing pan
• 2 cups milk or half and half
• 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 6 large eggs
• ¼ cup light brown sugar plus 1 tbsp
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 8 ounce cream cheese room temperature and softened
• 2 tbsp of confectioners sugar
• 2 cups strawberries cut into ¾ to 1-inch pieces
• 2 tbsp fresh basil finely chopped
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Butter a 9x13 casserole dish. Set aside. 

2. In a medium sized bowl whip the cream cheese with a hand mixer until soft and fluffy (just a couple of minutes) then mix in the confectioners sugar and set aside 

3. In a large bowl, whisk together milk (or half and half), vanilla, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

4. Arrange the bread chunks into your baking dish and pour the egg mixture over top. You can start by mixing a small amount of mixture at a time and tossing the bread chunks and then adding more to make sure the breads a all soaked and coated in the egg mixture and cinnamon.

5. Refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight if only serving the next day.

6. Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees

7. Dollop the cream cheese over the bread. We like to make sure there’s a cream cheese dollop at least in every slice.

8. Bake for 45 minutes or until the French toast is golden and crisp. If it starts to brown to much you can add butter cubes.

9. To serve spoon your fresh strawberries overtop, garnish with fresh chopped basil and serve with whipped cream and maple syrup.

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